Police arrived and managed to keep the boy alive until medical emergency services arrived, but he died later in hospital.

Police confirmed to the WAZ regional newspaper on Thursday that the man had suffered from depression and panic attacks, and was taking medication to help with his problems. He and the boy's mother had been together for about half a year, the paper said.

He had not been violent before, the paper said. After attacking the boy with an 18-centimetre long kitchen knife, the man hurt himself so badly that he had to be put in an artificial coma, although his life is not thought to be in danger.

Three children who were killed in Dortmund last week, before their flat was set on fire, will be buried in Turkey, it was announced this week. Their father's girlfriend is suspected of having killed the children aged four, 10 and 12.

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